The following is offered to assist Pastors in identifying both the general and specific elements of a Pastoral Associate’s job description. A job or position description should include both general and specific responsibilities. General Pastoral Ministry Responsibilities constitute those tasks expected of all Pastoral Associates. The listing of Possible Specific Pastoral Responsibilities outlines other areas of pastoral responsibility, which may be designated as the Pastoral Associate’s specific responsibility according to local need.

Pastoral Associate

Job Description
Last updated:  1/12/24

Position Summary:

The Pastoral Associate assists the local ordinary by working in the local Church, usually within a parish. Co-responsible with the pastor, he or she fulfills the mission of the Church within the whole of parish life, including liturgy, formation, service to the poor and care of temporal goods.

This is a role and title reserved to those formed, appointed, and commissioned by the local ordinary in consultation and formation with the Office of New Evangelization and Parish Life.  The title Pastoral Associate can only be used in this context.

Essential Functions:

• Calls forth, directs and coordinates, with the Pastor, the evangelical endeavors of the parish community so that Gospel faith can grow and flourish.
• Works with clergy, staff, ministry leaders and councils to implement the mission of the parish.
• Consults with the regional bishop as an advocate on behalf of the parish.
• All Archdiocesan employees represent the Roman Catholic Church, and they are expected to conduct themselves according to the goals and mission of the Church.

• shares in the pastoral leadership of God’s people
• supports and fosters the spiritual growth of church life.
• by sharing in governance, they shepherd the community individually and collectively, empowering and equipping them to proclaim the kerygma.
• communicating and/or casting a vision of becoming a community of missionary disciples.
• participating in and leading the process of making missionary disciples
• discerning and articulating the mission of the whole
• calls forth and coordinates the charisms of the members of the community.
• helps lay apostles discern their secular apostolate
• leads the community in discerning how to put those charisms and vocations at the service of the collective response of the community for the transformation of the world.

• An active, growing, disciple in the Roman Catholic Faith Community
• A person of faith, baptized, confirmed and in good standing in the Roman Catholic Church
• In general good health (physical, psychological, spiritual)
• Must have psychological assessment and pass a background check
• Possess a Master’s degree in Theology, Pastoral Theology or Religious Studies, or otherwise qualified in the judgment of the local ordinary.
• Participated in Missionary Formation as provided by the Office of New Evangelization and Parish Life or its equivalent.
• At least three years of paid or volunteer service in parish pastoral ministry

• Church, Archdiocesan and Parish policies and procedures
• Strategic planning, development, and organization
• Resource and budget management
• Professional use of social media and technology
• Multi-cultural nature of ministry in the Archdiocese

• Pastoral application of Church teaching
• Effective written and oral communication
• Tact, sensitivity, active listening and responsiveness in various situations and needs
• Dealing with personnel matters and conflict resolution
• Administrative and organizational planning
• Facilitation of groups
• Supervision, mentoring and evaluation of staff
• Planning for liturgical and sacramental rites
• Leading prayer services or other liturgical settings as appropriate
• Public speaking, group facilitation and teaching methodology
• Developing and overseeing a budget
• Working within parish and Archdiocesan systems

• Be co-responsible with the pastor for the vision and mission of the parish
• Exercise personal initiative while collaborating with a team
• Utilize a collaborative leadership style to facilitate the development of leadership
• Collaborate with clergy, religious, laity, staff and parish leadership about the vision and mission of the parish
• Demonstrate commitment to professional growth and development

• Regular Spiritual Direction
• Annual, personal retreat
• Completion of Continuing Formation - 36 Hours per year
• Annual renewal of their call to the ministry of the Pastoral Associate through prayer & discernment in context of their own discipleship.  Every 5 years, this process will be undertaken in consultation with ONEPL for the renewal of their commission.